Shopping in Northern Ireland

byte · 23-10-2008 11:33pm

muffler wrote: »

In Asda Strabane tonight - 1 litre bottles Smirnoff for £13 (€16.50 - €17.00 max.)
20 x 330ml bottles Heineken for £13
15 x 440ml cans Carlsberg for £7 (about €9)

Good to see they still have the Carlsberg on offer. Bought 3 slabs the last day I was up, need more though!

Smirnoff be handy for festive season at that kinda money.

muffler · 24-10-2008 12:20am

byte wrote: »

Good to see they still have the Carlsberg on offer. Bought 3 slabs the last day I was up, need more though!

Yeah good choice. I think I have enough stock piled now in the shed.

byte wrote: »

Smirnoff be handy for festive season at that kinda money.

Handy any time

I got 3 of them but Id be fairly sure one or two could be gone before the festive season

smashey · 24-10-2008 8:21am

muffler wrote: »

Yeah good choice. I think I have enough stock piled now in the shed.

Did you get some Heineken?

muffler · 24-10-2008 11:12am

smashey wrote: »

Did you get some Heineken?

Im not telling you for obvious reasons.

ntlbell · 27-10-2008 12:44pm

heading from dublin does anyone know what exit i need to take for asda and where it is generally after the exit?

muffler · 27-10-2008 3:19pm

ntlbell wrote: »

heading from dublin does anyone know what exit i need to take for asda and where it is generally after the exit?

It might be helpful if you said which town you were going to

zAbbo · 27-10-2008 7:08pm

Traffic was horrible this weekend, and I wasn't even going into Newry.

Damn dubs

ntlbell · 27-10-2008 10:11pm

muffler wrote: »

It might be helpful if you said which town you were going to

lol sorry newry

i ended up getting lost and going to dunnes

banchang · 27-10-2008 10:39pm

Never again Newry on a bank holiday weekend.

Had to go x-country thru Crosmaglen to beat the traffic, which wasn't moving, at all. Nothing left on the shelves in Sainsburys at 1545, & it was completely & utterly packed.

Our man in Havana · 27-10-2008 10:47pm

Avoid Newry at all costs leave it to the Dubs. You are better off staying on the A1 to Lisburn and Belfast and spending your money there.

ntlbell · 27-10-2008 11:44pm

banchang wrote: »

Never again Newry on a bank holiday weekend.

Had to go x-country thru Crosmaglen to beat the traffic, which wasn't moving, at all. Nothing left on the shelves in Sainsburys at 1545, & it was completely & utterly packed.

there was a truck and a car broke down there at some point i think thats what caused a lot of it

zAbbo · 28-10-2008 12:02am

Bond-007 wrote: »

Avoid Newry at all costs leave it to the Dubs. You are better off staying on the A1 to Lisburn and Belfast and spending your money there.

Traffic still crawls into the two roundabouts, always seems to be road work and single lanes.

Was up in Belfast twice over the weekend and it was bad, but today was nasty.

Done a bit of cross country ourselves

muffler · 28-10-2008 1:22am

Bank holiday weekends are always going to be awful especially at this time of year. If you can get to a store early in a mid week morning then you're flying.

delly · 28-10-2008 10:25am

One tip for Newry is to to go straight thru' the roundabout after the end of the motorway. After about KM or two, you take a right hand turn under a rail bridge and this then leads you into the city centre but while also avoiding the traffic on the hill.

jenizzle · 28-10-2008 4:13pm

I went to Belfast on Friday and called into Newry on the way home at about 7pm - t'was pretty quiet. Don't think people realise that Banbridge, Lisburn and Belfast aren't actually that far away from Newry!

Our man in Havana · 28-10-2008 4:38pm

Indeed.

People can be lazy creatures and as such don't realise that places like Banbridge, Lisburn etc are not far away from Newry at all. Also the shopkeepers in Newry know this and price accordingly.

okidoki987 · 28-10-2008 5:53pm

Is there any Asda near Ikea or on way back down to Dublin?

DonJose · 28-10-2008 5:54pm

Just arrived home from shopping at Asda and Tesco in Enniskillen and I'm a happy camper. Bought a 3 months supply of nappies and baby food and I spent roughly £200 on booze as I'm planning a party this month, amongst the booze,

1 liter Jameson whisky - £17.98
1 liter Baileys - £13
1 liter Smifnoff - £13
15 bottles of Miller 330ml - £7
20 bottles of Heineken 330ml - £13
20 bottles of Bud 330ml - £12

It was well worth the trip and I plan on doing all my major shopping in the north, I reckon I saved at least 25% on my shopping today. Hopefully the only thing I will need to buy in the republic will be daily essentials like milk, bread, eggs and so on.

Our man in Havana · 28-10-2008 5:58pm

okidoki987 wrote: »

Is there any Asda near Ikea or on way back down to Dublin?

Downpatrick. Follow the A2 from Belfast to Downpatrick.

Moonbeam · 28-10-2008 6:38pm

Was up in Banbridge on Sunday,it was really nice.
There were no crowds,no queues and although there are not a lot of shops,what is there is pretty good.
Went to tescos too,nearly everything is cheaper then tescos here,spent a fortune!

okidoki987 · 28-10-2008 6:42pm

Under pressure timewise don't want to deviate that much, any in Banbridge or Newry?

DubDani · 28-10-2008 8:17pm

You don't have to deviate at all. There is an Asda in Belfast almost straight off the M1 (2 minutes max). It's open 24/7.

Westwood Shopping Centre
Kennedy Way
Belfast
BT11

P.S. There is none in Newry or Banbridge

okidoki987 · 28-10-2008 8:24pm

Cheers

patmac · 28-10-2008 8:41pm

Here is a spread sheet of what we bought in ASDA in Enniskillen we saved €211 and the booze isn't included.

gally74 · 28-10-2008 8:56pm

bravo patmac!!!

was in enniskilleen on Sunday, it was pretty nuts, big queue's for the tills,

the two brians should go up there on a weekend and see what people are doing, nobody wants to have to drive to shop but the savings are real!

Funkyzeit · 28-10-2008 9:13pm

patmac wrote: »

Here is a spread sheet of what we bought in ASDA in Enniskillen we saved €211 and the booze isn't included.

You were robbed on the milk of magnesia..!!;)

muffler · 28-10-2008 10:01pm

patmac wrote: »

Here is a spread sheet of what we bought in ASDA in Enniskillen we saved €211 and the booze isn't included.

Well done patmac. Nice to see it all put together so professionally.

now print it out and tape it to the doors of the nearest Dunnes and Tescos stores

okidoki987 · 28-10-2008 11:44pm

Good report patmac.
You should stick the booze on it and see how much of a saving people will get by going up.

muffler · 28-10-2008 11:56pm

I can tell you how much smirnoff vodka is in Asda

josh59 · 29-10-2008 10:31am

DubDani wrote: »

You don't have to deviate at all. There is an Asda in Belfast almost straight off the M1 (2 minutes max). It's open 24/7.

Westwood Shopping Centre
Kennedy Way
Belfast
BT11

P.S. There is none in Newry or Banbridge

And if you have a sat nav the post code to input is BT11 9AP.

Theres an Asda in Downpatrick as well but it's a fair drive from Newry on fairly narrow roads - I passed through there a few weeks ago and it took a good 40 minutes from Newry.

josh59 · 29-10-2008 10:35am

patmac wrote: »

Here is a spread sheet of what we bought in ASDA in Enniskillen we saved €211 and the booze isn't included.

Well done patmac most people always seem to dwell on the savings to be made on alcohol and highlight these good to see the savings on ordinary stuff highlighted for a change

AM · 29-10-2008 11:01am

Excellent work on the spreadsheet patmac.

I called into Asda Enniskillen on Monday evening after a trip to Donegal and the place was choked with shoppers. Washing powder and dishwasher tablets were sold out apart from the smallest packs. You would think it was Christmas eve with the amount of people there - Sainsburys Newry must be brutal!

I'm from the north (live in the south) and I'd recommend my nearest shopping centre at home, Rushmere in Craigavon. It's probably handiest for people from Monaghan. Theres a Tesco and Sainsburys with a lot of other large retailers: Debenhams, Next, Currys, Argos etc. It's not as hectic as the border shops so it my appeal for that reason alone.

TarfHead · 29-10-2008 12:21pm

We were in Belfast on Friday and used the credit card in 3 places. The charges are on the credit card account this morning and the rates applied caught my eye.

IKEA 0.7859
Sainsburys 0.8039
Toys'R'Us 0.8040

I would have expected the credit card company to have applied a common rate for all 3, given that the transactions were on the same day and the transactions are on my statement under the same date ? Obviously not.

After we left Toys'R'UsI was kicking myself that I hadn't asked them to put the charge through as Euro, using their own rate of 0.81. But, given the amount we spent, the difference (0.81 vs 0.804) was negligible.

patmac · 29-10-2008 12:23pm

I have to admit I was surprised myself at the savings we also bought 2 bottles of brandy and 5 bottles of wine and I have no comparison down here. €211 which was 37%. How can that be? Jesus the whole country will be going there soon. Will go again in the new year, what will it be like when they have a sale on! We bought a lot of ASDA's roll back offers (special red sticker), thanks mainly goes to the other half who did the legwork on the prices.

Our man in Havana · 29-10-2008 12:44pm

TarfHead wrote: »

We were in Belfast on Friday and used the credit card in 3 places. The charges are on the credit card account this morning and the rates applied caught my eye.

IKEA 0.7859
Sainsburys 0.8039
Toys'R'Us 0.8040

I would have expected the credit card company to have applied a common rate for all 3, given that the transactions were on the same day and the transactions are on my statement under the same date ? Obviously not.

After we left Toys'R'UsI was kicking myself that I hadn't asked them to put the charge through as Euro, using their own rate of 0.81. But, given the amount we spent, the difference (0.81 vs 0.804) was negligible.

Credit card company applies that rate on the day of processing which will not be the actual date of the transaction.

bagels · 29-10-2008 2:24pm

hi,
my better half rescues cats from the GSPCA cat shelter and adopts strays;
we have 5 cats at the moment;
cat food has become very expensive in county galway lately;
would we save much by shopping for same in enniskillen?
price comparisons would be welcome;
thanks
bagels

Bomany · 29-10-2008 3:54pm

The Asda in Downpatrick is worth the extra 40 mins as it is nowhere near as busy as supermarkets in Newry. It has an Argos, Halfords, New Look, in same complex.

On the other side of the North Strabane has a huge Asda. There is an Argos just across the road from it. It also has Better Deals which gives 1 Euro to 1 Pound. It does not have an off licence but there is a Winemark in the same complex.

Derry has Tesco on Waterside, Tesco on Cityside and Sainsburys along the Strand Road.

In Donegal we are lucky in that the border is close. Savings are in the order of 25% on food.

TarfHead · 29-10-2008 3:59pm

Bond-007 wrote: »

Credit card company applies that rate on the day of processing which will not be the actual date of the transaction.

I accept that. I thought it curious that 3 rates were in effect for transactions that were processed over 2 possible processing dates.

Fri 24 - 3 transactions
Mon 27
Tue 28 - date for all 3 transactions on credit card statement

Maybe they differentiate by retailer ? In addition to the credit card, I used the debit card in IKEA for a small transaction and was charged 4.5% (Maestro charge) for that one.

mell61 · 29-10-2008 4:17pm

someone earlier in the thread mentioned Makro for shopping, and I do have a card for it that has given me great savings over the couple of years I've had it (latest one was about Eu150 off a 26inch lcd tv).
The alcohol bit doesn't require a card, so anyone can shop there - personally I always try the bargain corner first, last couple of times I've gotten 16 bottles of Kronenberg for £3.99 as it was going off the planner, i've also picked up some great belgian beers there as well.
In terms of the value, know your prices going in and have a calculator, laundry / toilet paper / mach 3 blades are all brilliant value but some of the foodstuff are same if not more.
I wouldn't bother going to Newry, the queues are dreadful, take the extra 10-15 min and head up to the sainburys further on up to Belfast, and its a lot quieter!
My one memory of a stop in Newry was a real Dub standing shout to all and sundry 'why can't anyone tell me how much £10 is?', in the off licence! I faked a norther accent and legged it....

DonJose · 29-10-2008 5:35pm

patmac wrote: »

I have to admit I was surprised myself at the savings we also bought 2 bottles of brandy and 5 bottles of wine and I have no comparison down here. €211 which was 37%. How can that be? Jesus the whole country will be going there soon. Will go again in the new year, what will it be like when they have a sale on! We bought a lot of ASDA's roll back offers (special red sticker), thanks mainly goes to the other half who did the legwork on the prices.

Asda Enniskillen also have a nice restraunt upstairs and the grub is cheap. We ended up with 4 shopping trolleys full. We bought the booze first, 2 trolleys full and then emptied it into the car, then we went back and did the food shopping.

To tell the truth, if it wasn't for Brian Lenihan's rant, I probably wouldn't have bothered trying out shopping in the North, I will be doing all my major shopping in the North, at least once a month. Thanks Brian

http://www.rte.ie/money/budget2009/stories/2008/1015/budgetlenihan.html

What electrical shops would you recommend in the North?

johnfás · 29-10-2008 6:33pm

I blame the education cuts on DonJose.

DublinWriter · 29-10-2008 9:37pm

Bond-007 wrote: »

People can be lazy creatures and as such don't realise that places like Banbridge, Lisburn etc are not far away from Newry at all.

True. Just back from Sainsburys in Lisburn - it's about 4 times the size of the Newry Sainsburys, there's a much better selection, shelves are stocked and the place doesn't resemble the Fall of Hanoi.

Sprucefield Park and Centre in Lisburn are definitely worth a visit. M&S, Curries, Next and a humongous B&Q. Newry turns into a zoo between now and Xmas.

Our man in Havana · 30-10-2008 12:04am

Just back from Newry today. Herself wanted to go to Evans in the Buttercrane so I had to comply. Sainsburys was mobbed. As bad as any weekend. As you say the place looked like it was being looted.

Got some great bargains on beer. Any 3 boxes for £20. 3x15 Millers for £20, you can't go wrong there.

northdubgal · 30-10-2008 7:48am

What's this Makro thing that people are talking about ??

smashey · 30-10-2008 9:40am

northdubgal wrote: »

What's this Makro thing that people are talking about ??

Makro Belfast

northdubgal · 30-10-2008 10:02am

smashey wrote: »

Makro Belfast

Ahhh!! Thanks for that! Are many people here members?

smashey · 30-10-2008 10:05am

northdubgal wrote: »

Ahhh!! Thanks for that! Are many people here members?

There are a few membesr here. I just borrow a card whenever i go.

aquascrotum · 30-10-2008 11:53am

Was driving back from Armagh via Newry on Bank Hol Monday and was feeling sorry for the bargain hunters queued halfway from Dundalk....

My handy hint for the day - Sainsburys in Armagh. Not as big as Newry but it carries 90% of the stuff with 5% of the hassle - if you're heading from Dublin, take off the M1 at Ardee, N2 to Castleblayney, and an R road from Blayney to Armagh via Keady, means you miss the traffic carnage at Newry. I'm from Armagh and was up at the weekend, toddled round shopping between 11 and 12 with not a soul near me, fully stocked shelves, and only half a dozen RoI reg's in the carpark.

Armagh is circa 90mins from Dublin via M1/N2/Keady. Coming back you can return via Newry as the traffic moves grand sounthbound, and you have the added satisfaction (as I did) of piling your orange bags high in the back seat and driving past waving at the northbound queues on the M1

Next best tip would be Tesco in Banbridge which again requires negotiation of the Newry bypass, or Rushmere in Craigavon, again via Newry and rubbish road from Newry - Portadown.

okidoki987 · 30-10-2008 12:33pm

Went to Ikea yesterday, went to use a credit card and the bloke said,
"I'll have to charge you 1% to use the credit card as the credit card companies charge us!"
There was no charge for Irish Laser card, the rate for Euro was 0.7500.
Noticed very few ROI reg's in Ikea yesterday must have been the day of the week, a lot of the stuff we wanted also wasn't in stock

.
Tried to get into Newy and after 15 minutes of not moving gave up.
Massive queues into the town from the South after lunchtime.

Our man in Havana · 30-10-2008 1:02pm

aquascrotum wrote: »

Was driving back from Armagh via Newry on Bank Hol Monday and was feeling sorry for the bargain hunters queued halfway from Dundalk....

My handy hint for the day - Sainsburys in Armagh. Not as big as Newry but it carries 90% of the stuff with 5% of the hassle - if you're heading from Dublin, take off the M1 at Ardee, N2 to Castleblayney, and an R road from Blayney to Armagh via Keady, means you miss the traffic carnage at Newry. I'm from Armagh and was up at the weekend, toddled round shopping between 11 and 12 with not a soul near me, fully stocked shelves, and only half a dozen RoI reg's in the carpark.

Armagh is circa 90mins from Dublin via M1/N2/Keady. Coming back you can return via Newry as the traffic moves grand sounthbound, and you have the added satisfaction (as I did) of piling your orange bags high in the back seat and driving past waving at the northbound queues on the M1

Next best tip would be Tesco in Banbridge which again requires negotiation of the Newry bypass, or Rushmere in Craigavon, again via Newry and rubbish road from Newry - Portadown.

You evil bastard!

Where in Armagh is the sainsburys? Is it a case of you can't miss it?

Shopping in Northern Ireland

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